1 Top Class Manager: The Notebooks of Joy Division’s Manager 1978-1980
by Rob Gretton

Scribbled notes from the underground

The passing of Tony Wilson shifted the “death limelight” away from Joy Division’s manager Rob Gretton. This is unfair, because most people associated with the band (and New Order) remember him as perhaps the most integral part in their ascent, with his role in films such as Control and 24 Hour Party People handled with a blatant love and respect.

Beautifully laid out, Manager really lifts the lid on what Gretton did to become so revered. Trouble is, it’s not an interesting read and is, in fact, quite hard to discern what the hell is going on. Page after page of scrawled notes, lists, financial reports and orders for badges are only occasionally perked up by experimental tracklistings for Unknown Pleasures or tour costings. There’s a cute page detailing the budget for band clothing (£20 each!) on the eve of the US tour that never was, but such flashes of real life scarely turn up.

Still, it’s fascinating in its own way, and the JD anoraks will lap it up. It seems like a labour of love too, unlike a lot of the JD product that’s around – much more in the spirit of Factory than another best of.

3 stars 3 stars 3 stars

ISBN tbc, 224 pages

Reviewed by Jake Kennedy
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